Mother of Slain Protester Sentenced to Prison and Fine in Amol

Henhaw: Saturday, January 6, 2024

Farzaneh Barzekar, the mother of Irfan Rezaei, who lost his life during the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi movement in Amol, has been handed a 24-month prison sentence, a monetary fine, and social exclusion by the judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Accirding to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Farzaneh Barzekar recently received an 8-month prison term from the first branch of the Amol Revolutionary Court, led by Judge Iman Hassanzadeh Vakil, for "propaganda against the government." Additionally, she was sentenced to 16 months in prison for the charge of "insulting Khamenei," with this verdict being suspended for two years.

The mother of Irfan Rezaei also faced financial penalties, being fined 15 million tomans by Branch 106 of the Amol Criminal Court, under the jurisdiction of Judge Mohammad Ali Alinia Kalai. These fines were for "publishing propaganda in cyberspace" and "publishing images without hijab in cyberspace." She is also subject to a one-year ban from activities in cyberspace.

These sentences were formally communicated to Ramzan Haji Mashhadi, Farzane Barzekar's defense lawyer, in the past few days.

Farzaneh Barzekar was arrested by the Intelligence Department on Sunday, September 3, 2023, while leaving Javad Rouhi's memorial ceremony in Amol. She was released from prison by posting bail until the conclusion of the proceedings.

Irfan Rezaei, Farzaneh Barzekar's son, lost his life on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, during the popular protests in Amol city. He was fatally shot twice in the shoulder and chest by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.